Apparatus for processing thread



June 851943.- R. F. BERGMANN am. 2,321,541

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THREAD y Filed June 1o, 1940 s sheets-sheet 2 n l?) -49 52" l5 49 52.' .n l 3 5 Jnnntor: 'TIE E RICHARD FEERQMANN CLARENcr-:CMIALTERS June 8, 1943. R. F. BERGMANN x-:rAL

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THREAD s sheets-sheet s Filed June 10, 1940 nvenfr: RICHAR D REERQMANN C LAR ENcEC WALTERS l Gttorneg Patented June `8, 1943 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THREAD Richard F. Bergmann, Lakewood, and Clarence C. Walters, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 1o, 1949, serial 10,939,669

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for supporting thread packages or thread bodies made up of a plurality of layers of thread during processing treatment. More particularly, it relates to means for supporting the package or threadbody during drying. As hereinafter employed, the term thread is used in the generic sense: 'it is intendedV to embrace materials,

whether of natural Orsynthetic origin, such as tapes, bands, singleor multiple-filament threads, cords and the like butv notably those intended for WeaLving purposes. For convenience, however, the invention will be described as employed in the manufacture of multiple filament viscose' artificial silk thread.-

In the production'of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread,.the desideratum is to make a product which will have universal adaptability.

Many conventional practices presenthf employed in manufacturing multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread produce a material which,

due to non-uniformity of physical and physicochemical characteristics, is not suitable for Weaving purposes. Much of this non-uniformity, particularly, in the so-called spool-spinning process, is traceable to the practices .employed in the drying operation.

f In the spool-spinning process, thread in pack.-

lage form is customarily exposed to the action of a drying medium applied simultaneously to the innermost and outermost layersfo-f the package. Such practices give rise to uneven shrinkages due to the fact that portions of the length of thread comprising the package are subjected to unequal tension induced by diierent rates of drying, depending upon the proximity of the thread-layers to the source of the drying medium.

.Various methods have been devised to correct for these factors.

One processwhich has been found to produce thread of more nearly uniform character is unidirectional drying, according to which the drying medium is introduced exclusively from one-side of the package; for instance, from within the inner core of said package, wherefore drying The instant invention contemplates apparatus which, when assembled with the thread package,

effectively maintains a sealing action upon vthe ends thereof, thuspreventlng leakage of the drying medium. The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as adapted to the drying of thread wound in package form upon a suitable flexible winding surface. The apparatus is, however, readily capable of modification to handle other types of thread packages than that shown.

In the accompanying drawings,.Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a thread-drying apparatus employing the supporting device of the present invention. Figure 2 represents a partial front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 3 isa sectional plan as seen from line `33 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section onan enlarged scale, with parts in elevation, of one of the supporting devices employed in thevapparatus of Figure l. Figure 5 indicates the relationship of the parts of the device of the invention as employed in connection with one form of ilexible winding spool. Figure 6 is 'a section from line 6,-liv of Figure 4. Figure 'I represents an end elevation of the assembly of Figure 5.

, The dryingA apparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and A3, which is vof the type shown and described in Fryer et al. Patent 2,288,618, employs the supporting devices o f the instant invention. It comprises a plurality of cabinets -IIJ which are preferably arranged in a double row back to back, extending longitudinally of and at some distance above a supply duct I5. Vertical frame members II arranged at spaced intervals along longitudinally extending horizontal frame members Il carry spacer,r members I2 and lateral members I3 upon which cabinets I8 are supported in operative relation to supply duct I5 supported above the floor by blocks I1. i

Each cabinet I0 ispreferably made up of'a 1 spool vcompartment I8, an intake chamber' 25,

must proceed layer by layer from the interior to the exterior layers thereof. In such operations, it is extremely diiicult, due to the fact that the package shrinks both axially and radially, to seal the ends of the package sufliclently'to prevent leakage of the drying medium from the interior of the package. Obviously,

unless such leakage can be prevented, the' outer layers will dry simultaneously -with the inner layers.

and an exhaust ychamber 21. Rear panel I9,

containing insulating material 2|, serves to separateAspool compartment I8 from intake chamber 25. Spongerubber gaskets 22, 23 and 2l form va leak-proof seal about the top, bottom and sides respectively of rear panel I 9 to prevent ltheleakage 'ofdrying medlum'from intake chamber 25 into-.spool lcompartment I8'. Division wall 26 separates intake chamber 25 andA .exhaust chamber 21, while wall 28 servesv as a common division between the corresponding exhaust Ychambers 21 of adjacent units of the drying apparatus.v

secured to spacer members as by means of hinges 4of door 56 is sealed by Supply duct I5 is divided longitudinally into a central return duct 39 flanked on either side by inlet ducts 34. By this arrangement, fresh drying medium is introduced from inlet ducts 34 into the several intake chambers 25 and moisture-laden drying medium is removed by means of return duct 39 from exhaust chambers 21 of cabinets I extending therealong. Supply duct I is preferably enclosed by a suitable insulation jacket I6 which is provided primarily for the purpose of preventing dissipation ofheat from the heated drying medium conveyed by inlet ducts 34 and return duct 39.

Inlet branch ducts 29, each of which is jacketed with insulating material 33, connectwith and serve to direct drying medium from each inlet duct 34 to the adjoining intake chamber 25 of each cabinet I9 on the same side of the apparatus. Each inlet branch duct 29 is provided with an individual control damper 3l which is manually adjustable by means of lever 32. Such means are needed in order to control the rate of flow of the drying medium entering the intake chamber and to permit equalization of the supply of said drying medium to each of the units comprising the apparatus.

Connecting the several exhaust chambers 21 with the central return duct 39 are exhaust branch ducts 35 for the removal of the moistureladen drying medium. Control dampers 36 equipped with levers 31 for manual adjustment are provided in exhaust branch ducts 35 as in the case of inlet branch ducts 29 to control the eiux of the drying mediumfrom exhaust chambers l21. Each exhaust branch duct 35 is jacketed with insulating material 38.

Each pair of cabinets I0 arranged back to back and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus has a common top 4I and floor 46. Surmounting top 4I is a layer of insulating material 42. sidewalls 43, which are I2. extend laterally of the apparatus and serve to separate each pair of cabinets from the adjacent pairs. as indicated in Figure 3. insulating panel 45 is provided between sidewalls 43 with the exception of that portion of said sidewalls adjacent spool compartments i9. which is left uninsulated. Thus isvformed air space 44 which aids in the dissipation of Aany heat which may be imparted during the operation to the interior of each spool compartment I9.-

Inserted in a substantially square opening in floor 45 of each spool compartment I9 is a base .plate 41 in which arev drilled a number of drain holes 46. Secured to the opening in floor 46 below base plate 61 is a generally funnel-shaped pan 69 in the apex of which is a drain outlet 5I communicating by means of drain pipe 52 with drain conduit 53 extending longitudinally of the apparatus. When a thread package is rst placed in the dryer, a certain amount of the processing medium in the thread package drips therefrom, is collected in pan 49, and removed by means of an inclined conduit 53 mounted upon a series of supports 55.

Access .to the interior of each spool compartment I9 for the insertion of spools mounting wet thread packages and the removal of such spools after the drying operation hasfbeen performed is provided by means of a tight fitting door 55 hung from spacer members I2 of the apparatus, 51. The entire outer'edge means ofl sponge rubber insulating material 6I so as to insure a Substntially air-tight closure when door 56 is locked in place by means of latch 56. In order to facilitate inspection of the thread packages during ers ofthe package will not dry simultaneously with the inner layers. Thus it is desirable to prevent the influx of air to spool compartment I8 which might produce a circulation of the air therein so as to cause premature drying of the exterior of the thread package.

Within each spool compartment I8 and mounted on the rear panel I9 thereof are a plurality of spool mounting bases 64 each of which is generally of the form of a. hollow cylinder. Each base 64 comprises a face 65 which projects into spool compartment I9 and a butt portion 59 which extends through panel I9 into intake chamber 25. The exterior of butt portion 66 is threaded to accommodate nuts 61 which serve to secure base 64 in rear panel I9.

Extending axially of and supported within base 64 by means of webs E8 separated by openings 69 is a generally tubular shank portion 10 which extends through intake chamber 25 and communicates with exhaust chamber 21. Nut 1I threaded upon the end of shank portion 19 effectively seals the opening in division wall 26 through which said shank portion passes. Ex-

` haust tube 12 inserted in the end of shank portion 10 adjacentface 65 and projecting therefrom serves not only to assist in the recirculation yof the drying medium but also to locate the thread package. 1

As hereinbefore indicated, the invention contemplates, among other things, apparatus for supporting the thread package whileit is disposed in spool compartment I6. Such apparatus preferably takes the form of base collar 13 and cap 14 which serve not only to support the thread package but, as will be hereinafter explained, to provide means for recirculating the drying medium within the interiory of the package. These parts also serve to maintain a fluidtight seal with theends of the package to preventfleakage of the drying medium.

A flexible corrugated spool 15 of the type shown in Figures 5 and 6 upon which, is wound package 16 is especially adapted to employment with the apparatus of the `instant invention.

" Spool 15 is characterized by a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves III9 and ridges II. This spool construction,` which is shown and described in the copending application of Louis S. Fryer and Wayne J. vJokilehto Serial No. 339,666, filed June 10, 1940, gives rise to a relatively high degree of radial flexibility and freedom from fatigue. It is not intended, however, that the instant invention shall be restricted to a iiexible core of the-.class above described.

Base collar 13 o'f the invention comprises a.-

iioating ring 19 and acompression ring 90. Upon assembling the apparatus for insertion in the dryer, compression ring 50 into which one end of spool 15 is inserted operates by virtue of shoulder 82, which is of slightly smaller diameter than package 16, base collar 13 and cap-14 together I yas a unit in thv manner suggested by Figure the normal diameter of spool 15, vto compress away from the interior of package 16 at least a portion of said spool. This operation causes the inner diameter of spool to conform substantially to the outside diameter of exhaust tube 12. Conically shaped opening 11 in compression ring 80 serves to direct the drying medium passing from intake chamber 25 through openings 69 to' the interior of package 16. An annular flanged portion 83 extending'about opening .11 vts over face 65 of spool-mounting base64 and is sealed by contact with a sponge rubber gasket 84 encircling said face 65.

Floating ring I9 of base collar 13, which is adapted to slip freely over the end of compressed spool 15, Cis supported from compression ring 80 by means of a plurality of guide pins 85. Said partment I8.

before positioning the assembly upon one of the several spool mounting bases 64 in spool comthis manner permits the operator to adjust floating rings 19 and 19 of base collar 13 and cap 14` respectively so that they will fit snugly against the ends of package *16,l maintaining constant contact with shoulders 95 and 95' thereof.-

By virtue of this method of mounting floating t rings 19 and 19' upon compression rings 80 and 96 of base collar 13 and cap 14 respectively, such guide pins 85, which are th'readed into the flat face of floating ring 19 adjacent compression ring 80, are adapted to slide longitudinally within cylindrical sockets 66 formed in said compression ring. An equal number of springs 81 dislposed about fingers 88 formed'upo'n floating ring 19v and alternately spaced with respect to guide pins 85 cooperate with spring sockets 89 to force floating ring 19 and compression ring 80 apart.

Flexible tubing 90 held in place by wire clamps 92 and 93 serves to provide a flexible connection between floating ring 19 and compression ring 80 while preventing escape of the drying medium therebetween.

VThe face of floating ring 19 opposite that adjacent to compression ring 80 is tapered as indicated by reference character. 94 to conform to the shape of. shoulder 95 formed on package 16 upon spool 15. Dependingupon the method of winding package 16, tapered portion 94 may be rings are capable of movement' under the infiuence of springs 81 and 81' within the limits i-mposed by guide pins 85 and 85' and sockets 86 and 86 inwhich they slide. Floating. rings 19 and 19T therefore continually follow thread package 16 as it shrinks during the drying operation. Package '16 is, of course, supported by tapered portions 94 and 94' of floating rings 19 and'19 out of contact with spool 15, for spool 15 is`compressed by shoulders 82 and 82. of base collar 13 andfcap 14.A

After spool 15 is assembled in this fashion with its respective base collar`13 and cap 14, theunit is slipped over the extended end of exhaust tube 12 until annular flanged portion 83 of base collar 13 contacts sponge rubber gasket 84 surrounding face 65 of spool mounting base :64. Suitable means are provided for holding each unit in this |02. One such clampingdevice is provided for `each position and is mounted upon the sidewall' 43 of spoolcompartment I8 adjacent each spool mounting base 64, being secured. thereto by altered to correspond generally with the shoull ders 95 and 95' on'the ends of the package, re-

v gardless of `whether they be square, hyperbolic or stepped. It is especially desirable to have the contour of tapered portion 94 of floating ring 19 and package shoulder 95 conform, for otherwise leakage or, channelling of the drying medium may result.

The structure of cap 14 corresponds generally to that of base collar 13. The principal -diference in cap 14 is that its compression ring 96 has a blank outer face 91 and a substantially cupshaped inner deflecting surface 98. Shoulder .82 corresponding to shoulder 82 of base collarl 13 cooperates with'the latter to compress the other end of spool 15 uniformly away from package 16 leaving the package itselfsupported entirely by tapered portions 94. `and 94 of floating rings 19 and 19 of base collar 13 and cap 14,

respectively.

Guide pins 85', sockets 86', springs 81', fingers 68' and spring sockets 69' of cap 14 correspond both in arrangement and function with -thei corresponding parts in basecollar 13.

To facilitate assembly and to insure against means of brackets 99 and 99 and bolts I0l. Clamping device |02 is adapted to pivot about its longitudinal dimension and to slide in a direction parallel to the logitiudinal axis of spool 15 when the latter is positioned in spool compartment I6. On the forward end of ,clamping device I02, handle |03 is provided having a butt portion'l04 which registers with depression I 06- in outer face 91 of cap 14. Collar' |06 is fitted on the end of clamping device |02 opposite to handle |03 to serve as a stop to prevent its being drawn through bracket 99 when in extended position. A second collar |01 on clamping device |02 serves to urge spring |08 against bracket 99, lthereby causing butt portion |04 to exert a force of compression against cap v14 sufficient to hold the entire assembly in place on spool mounting base 64.

With spools 15 mounted in place in spool compartment I 8 in the manner just described, clamp- Y ing devices |02` areappiied to caps 14, after which door 56 is closed and locked by means of latch 58. Drying medium circulated' through possibility of leakage of drying medium around guide pins ',`sockets 86 are formed by drilling the holes therefore through 'the outer face 91 of cap 14. After inserting guide pins 85', ring- |00 is cemented in place to seal the openings of said sockets in outer face v91. This precaution is unnecessary in the case of sockets 86 in -base lcollar 13. Flexible tubing 90? held in place byA Wire clamps 92' and 93' is provided on cap 14 and corresponds generally with that of base colllar 13.

In the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1,

it is the practice to tspool 15, together with its ducts 34 by means of a suitable impelling device (not shown) is directed into each intake chamber 25 by means of inlet branch ducts 29. From intake chamber 25, the drying medium passes through openings 69 in spool -mounting bases 64, through conically' shaped opening 11 in base collar 13, and thence along the outer periphery of j spool- 15 into a generally cylindrical space ||2 which is left between said spool and threadl package 16.

The manner in which the drying medium moves along the interior of each package 16 is indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. Having absorbed some of the moisture from the thread,

the drying medium strikes delecting surface 98 of cap 14 and is directed toward exhaust tube Assembling each drying unit in` 12 about which spool 15 is disposed. -Exhaust tube 12, shank portion 6l, and exhaust chamber 21 cooperate to remove the moisture-laden drying medium which is directed therefrom by means of exhaust branch ducts 35 into central return duct 39 and thence to the suction side of the aforementioned impelling means.

Upon completion .of the drying operation, the spools and thread packages may be removed by releasing clamping means |02 and removing as a unit spool 15, bearing dried thread package 16, base collar 13 and cap 14. After the removal of the spool and thread package from base collar 13 and cap 14, the equipment is ready for the next batch of spools. The thread on the spool may be packaged in any suitable Way by unwinding it from said spool onto a twister, a

coning machine, skeining device or the like, or it may be otherwise handled as desired before packaging v `As will appear to those skilled in the art, various modications may be made in the apparatus hereinbefore described without in anyway de- 2. Apparatus for processing a thread body made up of a plurality of layers wound upon a member having a flexible winding surface of generally tubular form, said apparatus comprising demountable means in iixed relation to each other at each end of said flexiblewinding surface for uniformly compressing the same so that the thread body is wholly out of contact with said winding surface; means associated with one of said demountable means for introducing a processing medium into the interior of the thread body; deflecting means associated with the other of said demountable means for directing the processing medium from the interior of the thread body to the exterior thereof, said directing means cooperating with the means for introducing the processing medium to create a now of processing medium substantially axially of the interior of the thread body in contact with the innermost layers thereof; and, resiliently mounted upon each of said demountable means, means for supporting the thread body and simultaneously sealing it by maintaining constant contact parting from the spirit of the invention. Base collar 13 may, for instance, be formed integrally with spool mounting base 64. Other equally satisfactory means may, yii? desired, be devised not only for supporting floating rings 19 and 19' from base collar 13 and cap 14 respectively but also for urging tapered portions 94 and 94' thereof into contact with the shoulders of the thread package.

While the instant embodiment of the invenformed into precision Wound packages, it is readily applicable to a wide variety of other anologous uses. It may, for example, be found useful with little or no alteration for the application of other treatment processes involving the use of either liquidor gaseous processing media. The appameans disposed at each end of the thread body;

means for maintaining said demountable means in substantially fixed relation to each other supporting means cooperating with said demountable meansv for supporting said thread body; means associated with one of said demountable means for introducing a processing medium into the interior ofthe thread body; means associated with the other of said demountable means for directing the processing medium from the interior of the thread body to the exterior thereof, said directing means cooperating .with the means for introducing the processing medium to create a flowfof processing medium in a substantially axial direction within the interior of the thread body in contact with' the innermostlayers thereof ;v and flexible sealing means joining' said supporting means and said demountable means for preventing escape of the processing medium from the Ainterior of the threadbod: iin the course of the processing operation.

' tion is adapted for use in the drying of thread with the ends thereof so as to prevent escape of the processing medium from the interior of the thread body in the course of the processing operation.

3. Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 in which said demountable means com- -prise an annular ring and a cover having an annular rim on one face thereof.

4, Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 in which said demountable means comprise` an annular ring and a. cover having an annular rim on one face thereof, the inner diameters of said annular ring and said annular rim being less than the normal outer diameter of said flexible winding surface. 5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 in which said resiliently mounted means comprise annular rings provided with meansl for forming fluid-tight contact with the ends of the thread body.

6. Apparatus of the Acharacter described in claim 2 in which said demountable means comprise an annular ring through the center of which a processing medium can be introduced into the interior of the thread body and a cover provided' with a cup-shaped depression in one face thereof which directs the proc ...,ing medium from the interior of the thread body. A

7. Apparatus for processing a thread body of hollow, generally cylindrical form made up of a plurality of layers comprising demountable means disposed at each end of the thread body; means for maintaining said demountable means 'in substantially xed relation 'to each other; means associated with one of said demountable means for introducing a processing medium into the interior of the thread body; means associated with the other of said demountable means for directing the processing medium from the interior of the thread body to the exterior thereof; supporting means resiliently mounted upon each of said demountable means for supporting the thread 'body; and sealing meanscooperating with said 'supporting means and said demountable means to prevent the escape of processing medium from the interior of the thread body in the course of the processing operation.

RICHARD F. BERGMANN. 

